Exterior rear view mirror integral warning light

ABSTRACT

An exterior rear view mirror assembly is disclosed which incorporates a warning light actuatable in conjunction with the vehicle turn signals to alert adjacent motor vehicles of an anticipated turn. The warning light is integrated into a first decorative cover member and may be connected to the vehicle turn signal circuit by way of connectable electrical leads or by an integrally formed plug and outlet arrangement. A second decorative cover member may be substituted for the first decorative cover member when it is not desired to incorporate the warning light.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to rear view mirrorassemblies for motor vehicles and more particularly to exterior motorvehicle mirror assemblies which incorporate auxiliary warning lights.

[0003] 2. Discussion

[0004] Auxiliary warning lights have long been incorporated on the sidesof motor vehicles to provide a means of communicating the intentions ofthe operator thereof to adjacent vehicles such as for example theintention to change traffic lanes or to make a turn. Such lights areadvantageous in providing notice to an adjacent vehicle that may belocated in a blind spot and positioned such that the signaling vehicle'stail lights are not visible to the adjacent vehicle's operator.

[0005] While incorporation of such auxiliary warning lights isrelatively easy and straightforward on work-type vehicles it becomes asomewhat more complex problem when passenger-type vehicles are involveddue in part to the importance of aesthetic appearance. Otherconsiderations which may apply to any type of vehicle include the needto position the lights so as to minimize any impact on the vision of thevehicle operator and to maximize the area to the side and rear of thevehicle from which the auxiliary lighting is visible. Additionally,because in many cases the vehicle manufacturer may want to offer theauxiliary lighting arrangement as an option on certain vehicles, it ishighly desirable that the lighting system be designed to easily andconveniently integrate with the existing vehicle design so as tominimize added labor and/or costs associated with its installation.

[0006] The present invention provides a highly effective andaesthetically pleasing auxiliary lighting system which is integratedinto the vehicle's exterior rear view mirror assembly. Preferably, theauxiliary warning light of the present invention will be positioned onthe laterally outer surface of the vehicle's exterior rear view mirrorin such a manner as to be visible throughout an arc extending about 90degrees rearwardly from a line extending generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle. In this manner maximum visibility ofthe auxiliary warning light is provided to vehicles coming alongside theequipped vehicle while still preventing the emitted light from beingvisible to the vehicle operator or oncoming traffic. It should be noted,however, that the auxiliary warning light may be positioned so as to bevisible to oncoming traffic in addition to the above referenced arcshould this be desired and may in fact replace fender side marker lightsrequired in certain countries.

[0007] In one form the light is integrated into a removable decorativecovering which is secured to the mirror housing and a pigtail isprovided for connecting the light to a wiring harness in the interior ofthe mirror housing. In a modification of this embodiment, the decorativecover member incorporating the light assembly is provided with a plugand the mirror housing includes a receptacle whereby electrical contactson the cover member may be “plugged into” the receptacle as thedecorative cover member is fitted to the housing. This last arrangementfurther reduces the costs associated with final assembly as no separateeffort is required to make the electrical connections for the auxiliarywarning light. Further, the integration of the light assembly into thedecorative cover member greatly facilitates the offering of theauxiliary lighting feature as an option because only the decorativecover member need be changed to add or delete this auxiliary lightingfeature.

[0008] Additional advantages and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a side of a motorvehicle having an exterior rear view mirror assembly incorporating anauxiliary warning light provided thereon all in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a section view of the mirror light assembly of FIG. 1,the section being taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mirror housing with alternativedecorative cover members shown in position for installation thereon, allin accordance with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a view of the back side of a decorative cover memberhaving a light assembly incorporated therein which includes anintegrally formed electrical connector in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of a mirror housing incorporating anelectrical outlet adapted to mate with the plug shown in FIG. 5, all inaccordance with the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a motor vehicle having mirrors inaccordance with the present invention secured to opposite sides thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 7,there is shown an exterior rear view mirror assembly indicated generallyat 10 installed on the door 12 of a motor vehicle 14. Mirror assembly 10is of the typical breakaway design and includes a housing 16 pivotablysupported on an arm 18 extending outwardly from a generally triangularlyshaped mounting plate 20. As shown in FIG. 7, preferably two mirrors 10will be mounted on a vehicle 14, one on each side thereof.

[0017] Housing 16 may be of any desired shape and includes an upper wallportion 22, a lower wall portion 24, a forwardly facing wall portion 26and inner and outer wall portions 28 and 30 all of which merge smoothertogether so as to present a pleasing appearance. The rearwardly facingportion of housing 16 is open and is adapted to receive a reflectivemirror 32. Mirror 32 may be either of any suitable type such as flat,concave or convex or of the type which automatically adjusts to reduceglare. A suitably shaped support member (not shown) is secured withinthe housing and serves to movably support mirror within the opening. Thesupport member may include suitable drive motors and the like for remotecontrol adjustment of mirror as well as means for heating the mirror ifdesired. Housing 16 also contains a recessed portion 34 extending overat least a part of upper, inner, outer and forwardly facing portions 22,28, 30 and 26 which is adapted to receive a decorative cover member 36which cover member may be chromed, colored to match the vehicle or ofsome other finish to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0018] As thus far described, mirror assembly 10 is typical of existingrear view mirror assemblies currently employed on various motorvehicles. However, mirror assembly 10 of the present invention alsoincorporates an auxiliary warning light assembly 38 integrated with thedecorative cover member 36.

[0019] As best seen with reference to FIG. 3, auxiliary warning lightassembly 38 includes a light housing comprising a base member 40 havingan opening 42 therein which is adapted to receive a suitable electricalsocket 44 having a light source 46 provided thereon. Preferably opening42 will be designed with two or three radially outwardly andcircumferentially extending open portions whereby segmented inner flange48 of light socket 44 may be inserted and then turned a few degrees tolock it in place. It should be noted that any suitable available lightsource 46 may be utilized. A suitable pigtail and associated electricalconnector 50 is also provided extending outwardly from socket 44 whichis adapted to be connected to connector 52 of wiring harness 54 providedin housing 16. A lens member 56 is secured to base member 40 and isdesigned so as to direct light emitted from light source outwardly frommirror housing through an arc 58 extending approximately 90 degreesrearwardly from a line 60 passing through the mirror 10 and extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 62 of the motorvehicle 14. In order to enhance the visible light transmitted by thelens 56 the inner surface 64 of base member 40 will preferably be coatedwith a reflective material and shaped so as to direct a maximum amountof light from the light source 46 to the lens 56.

[0020] Light assembly 38 will preferably be mechanically secured todecorative cover member 36 by means of integrally formed snap fastenersso as to form a one-piece assembly therewith. Although any othersuitable manner of securing light assembly 38 to decorative cover member36 may be used such as for example adhesive bonding, sonic welding,molding or even suitable separate fasteners. It is desirable that lens38 have an outer surface which is shaped so as to form a substantiallysmooth continuation of the outer contour of decorative cover member asis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0021] In order to accommodate light assembly 38, housing 16 is providedwith an opening 66 on the recessed part of outer surface portion 30which underlies decorative member 36. While housing 16 is shown asproviding an opening 66 to accommodate light assembly 38, in someapplications it may be desirable to provide an enclosed recess in placethereof. Additionally, as mentioned above, a wiring harness 54 having asuitable electrical connector 52 will be provided within housing 16 soas to be accessible through opening 66 or within the recess if such isprovided in place of the opening 66.

[0022] In order to assemble decorative member 36 and associate lightassembly 38, one need merely interconnect the two electrical connectors50, 52 and thereafter assemble decorative member 36 to housing 16. Asshown in FIG. 4, decorative member 36 is provided with a plurality ofspaced outwardly extending tangs 68 on the back surface 70 thereof.These tangs 68 are designed to be received within suitable openingsprovided in housing 16 and to cooperate with latch members providedtherein to retain the decorative member 36 thereon in the same manner asin currently available mirror assemblies of this type.

[0023] Warning light assembly 38 is intended to be interconnected withthe vehicle turn signal system so that when one or the other of the turnsignals are actuated, the light assembly 38 provided on the exteriormirror on the corresponding side of the vehicle will also be actuated.In this manner any other vehicle that may be approaching the vehicleequipped with the subject invention or that may be traveling in itsblind spot will immediately be appraised of the equipped vehicle'sintention to turn or change lanes even though they may not be in aposition to see the vehicle tail lights. However, because the light ispositioned on the outer wall portion 30 of the mirror assembly, thehousing 16 and mirror 32 will prevent the driver of the vehicle frombeing distracted by this light when actuated.

[0024] As previously mentioned, the subject invention is particularlywell suited for offering of the auxiliary warning light as an optionalaccessory by vehicle manufacturers. As shown in FIG. 4, the overall sizeand shape of the decorative member 36 incorporating the light assembly38 is such that it may be easily and conveniently interchanged with adecorative member 72 which does not include the light assembly. Thus,during final assembly of the mirror, the assembler need merely selectone or the other of the two decorative cover members 36, 72 forattachment to the mirror housing 16 depending upon the desires of theintended customer. Further, should a purchaser of a vehicle decide at alater date to either add or delete the auxiliary lighting feature, it isonly necessary to replace the decorative cover member 36 or 72 with theother cover member.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the subjectinvention is disclosed which further facilitates rapid and low costassembly of the subject invention. In this embodiment, base member 40,light socket 44 and connector 50 are replaced by a base member 73 and alight socket 74 having a pair of electrically conductive pins 76extending outwardly therefrom. Mirror housing 16 is also modified byreplacing opening 66 with a molded-in cavity 78 in which a pair ofspaced openings 80 are provided positioned so as to receive pins 76 whendecorative member 82 is assembled thereto. Thus, with this embodimentthe assembler need not first interconnect the two electrical connectors50, 52 but rather needs merely install the decorative cover member 82during which pins 76 will be received within openings 80 therebyelectrically connecting light assembly to the existing vehicle turnsignal system. As with the previous embodiment, should a purchaser notdesire to include the light assembly, a cover member without the lightassembly included is easily assembled to mirror housing 16 and willcover and conceal cavity 78 provided therein.

[0026] While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to provide the advantages andfeatures above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention issusceptible to modification, variation and change without departing fromthe proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

We claim:
 1. An exterior rear view mirror assembly comprising: a housingadapted to be secured to an outer surface of a motor vehicle and havinga generally rearwardly facing opening; a reflective mirror disposedwithin said opening; a first decorative cover member secured inoverlying relationship to an outer surface portion of said housing, saiddecorative member including a light transmitting window; a lightassembly having a light source therein, said light source being operableto provide a signal visible through said light transmitting window to anadjacent motor vehicle when actuated.
 2. An exterior rear view mirrorassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light assembly includes alight housing, said light source including a light socket removablysecured to said light housing.
 3. An exterior rear view mirror assemblyas set forth in claim 2 wherein said light assembly is mounted on saiddecorative cover member.
 4. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as setforth in claim 3 wherein said light transmitting window is a lens andsaid light housing includes a light socket support member secured tosaid lens, said lens having an outer surface contour forming asubstantially smooth continuation of the outer surface of saiddecorative member.
 5. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forthin claim 4 wherein said light socket support member includes areflective inner surface, said inner surface being shaped to direct amaximum amount of light emitted from said light source to said lens. 6.An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid lens is operative to direct light through an arc extendingsubstantially 90 degrees rearwardly from approximately a line passingthrough said mirror assembly and extending perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said vehicle.
 7. An exterior rear view mirrorassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly includesan electrical connector adapted to be electrically connected to saidvehicle turn signal system, said light source including a matingconnector connected to said electrical connector whereby said lightsource may be actuated when said vehicle turn signal is actuated.
 8. Anexterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidmating connector is integrally formed with said light source.
 9. Anexterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidlight assembly is fixedly secured to said decorative cover member. 10.An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid mirror assembly includes a second decorative cover member, saidsecond decorative cover member being interchangeable with said firstdecorative cover member, said second decorative cover member beingsecured to said housing when said light assembly is not desired.
 11. Anexterior rear view mirror assembly for mounting on a motor vehicle, saidmirror assembly comprising: a housing having an upper wall portion, alower wall portion, a forwardly facing wall portion and inner and outerwall portion cooperating to define a generally enclosed area open at arearwardly facing portion thereof; a mirror movably positioned withinsaid open rearwardly facing portion thereof; a recessed portion providedin said housing, said recessed portion extending over at least a part ofsaid upper, forwardly facing and outer wall portions; a wiring harnessincluding a connector disposed in part within said housing, said wiringharness being adapted to be connected to a turn signal circuit of saidmotor vehicle; an opening provided in said recessed portion of saidouter wall portion, said connector being accessible through saidopening; a decorative cover member received within and substantiallycovering said recessed portion, said cover member including a lighthousing, said light housing including a lens forming a continuation ofthe outer surface of said decorative cover member, a light sourcesupported within said light housing, said light source being coupled tosaid connector whereby said light may be actuated in response toactuation of said turn signal circuit of said motor vehicle.
 12. Anexterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidlight source includes a pair of electrically conductive prongsprojecting outwardly of said light housing, said prongs beingconnectable to said connector upon assembly of said decorative covermember to said housing.
 13. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as setforth in claim 11 wherein said light housing is fixedly secured to aportion of said decorative cover member overlying said outer wallportion.
 14. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim11 wherein said light housing includes a surface operative to directlight from said light source to said lens.
 15. An exterior rear viewmirror assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lens is operativeto direct light outwardly from said outer wall portion in a direction tobe visible by other motor vehicles following and traveling alongsideside motor vehicle.
 16. An exterior rear view mirror assembly for amotor vehicle comprising: a housing having interconnected upper wall,lower wall, forwardly facing wall, inner wall and outer wall portionsand a wiring harness disposed therein, said wiring harness being adaptedto be connected to the turn signal circuit of said motor vehicle; saidhousing further having a recess extending across at least a part of saidupper wall, forwardly facing wall and outer wall portions; a connectorprovided in said recess of said outer wall portion; a first decorativecover member adapted to be received within and substantially cover saidrecess portion; a second decorative cover member adapted to be receivedwithin and substantially cover said recess portion, said second covermember including a light source provided thereon and a light connectorconnectable to said connector in said recess of said outer wall portion;one of said first and second cover members being disposed within saidrecess.
 17. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim16 wherein said light source is provided in a portion of said seconddecorative cover member received within said recess on said outer wallportion.
 18. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim17 wherein said light source is actuable in response to actuation ofsaid turn signal circuit.
 19. An exterior rear view mirror assembly asset forth in claim 16 wherein said recessed portion of said outer wallportion includes a cavity adapted to receive said light source when saidsecond decorative member is assembled to said housing, said cavity beingconcealed when said first or said second decorative cover member isassembled to said housing.
 20. An exterior rear view mirror assembly asset forth in claim 19 wherein said cavity includes an electrical outlet,said electrical outlet receiving a plug provided on said light sourcewhen said second decorative member is assembled to said housing.